Cabinets are perhaps the pieces of furniture that take up the most space in kitchens. They play a huge role in the overall look of the kitchen. That said, getting the right kitchen cabinet can actually improve not only your kitchens look but also its value. It’s therefore important to do a lot of planning when designing kitchen cabinets. But what goes into the planning process?

Space requirements

The size of your kitchen will largely determine the amount of space you will set aside for the cabinets. This does not necessarily mean that you will need a small cabinet if you have a small kitchen. Think about both horizontal space and vertical space. For large kitchens, you can use more horizontal space allowing you to have the cabinet top lower. The contrary is true for small kitchens.

Types of Kitchen Cabinets

If you are designing kitchen cabinets for your home, you can choose from three main types; stock, semi custom and custom cabinets. Stock cabinets are ready made. All you need is select the type and design you want and then have the cabinet delivered and installed in your kitchen. Semi custom cabinets on the other hand are built according to your specifications. You get to choose the materials to be used. Custom kitchen cabinets are as their name suggests. Besides selecting the materials used, they are built by hand within your kitchen.

Budget

The planning process of designing kitchen cabinets also involves creating a workable budget. How much are you willing to invest? As mentioned, a quality kitchen cabinet will significantly improve your kitchens value. If you are on a tight budget, you can opt to find the high quality but affordable materials and then have a semi custom cabinet built.

Storage needs

Planning for your kitchen cabinet also requires that you consider your storage needs. You might have a few utensils to store today. But how about two years from now when you have a young family and need more space for your utensils?

Accessibility

When designing kitchen cabinets, you will need to consider accessibility. Consider the users physic. For example, will a six year old easily access the top drawers and shelves easily? Are the pull-out drawers designed such that they don’t completely block off adjacent paths? Such questions should be kept in mind when planning on the overall design.

Materials used

The main material used when designing kitchen cabinets is wood. It’s elegant, strong and durable. However, the type of wood used greatly affects the price. When choosing the materials to use on your kitchen cabinet, think about quality, strength and eco friendliness. It’s usually advisable to research on the different materials available before making your choice.

The Final Look

Kitchen cabinets tell a lot about your tastes and preferences. Being the centerpiece in your kitchen, think of the aesthetic appeal it will add to your kitchen’s design.

Many homeowners rush to designing kitchen cabinets without necessarily planning first. The result is usually a cabinet that doesn’t suit their kitchen and doesn’t add value to their home.

Elizabeth Harper love to write about home furniture. She gives brilliant tips on basic furniture, decors and interior design ideas. Some tips she use are from Schaub kitchen cabinet hardware